Subtopic: Preservation of food by cooling and freezing
Question Statement:
Which of the following physiological symptoms are characteristic of 'Chilling Injury' in subtropical fruits (such as bananas, mangoes, and tomatoes) stored below their critical temperature threshold ($10\text{--}13^\circ\text{C}$) but well above freezing?
Options:
(A) Surface pitting and sunken lesion development
(B) Internal flesh discoloration and enzymatic vascular browning
(C) Failure to ripen normally with loss of characteristic aroma volatiles
(D) Formation of large ice crystals that puncture cells
Answer Key:
A, B, C
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
Chilling injury occurs above freezing ($10-13^\circ\text{C}$) due to membrane lipid phase transitions, causing surface pitting (A), browning (B), and ripening failure (C). Ice crystal formation (D) occurs only during freezing, not chilling injury.